1
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners
the interior designer spoke in a low, svelte voice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of svelte
Lewis makes Allegra a horny scamp, and Olyphant’s Pete, the group ringleader, has a svelte savagery.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
This particular take on the cargo van is longer, wider and emptier than any Sprinter that Mercedes builds at its factories while weighing hundreds of pounds less thanks to a svelte carbon fiber shell.
—C.c. Weiss
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Thanks in part to Ozempic, thin is back in, with once-plus-size celebrities sporting svelter physiques, and some already-slim stars now verging on gaunt.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The sloping roofline and tapered sides give it a more svelte look over the larger EX90 while the rear features the latest iteration of the automaker’s vertical LED taillights that outline the tailgate.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
This particular take on the cargo van is longer, wider and emptier than any Sprinter that Mercedes builds at its factories while weighing hundreds of pounds less thanks to a svelte carbon fiber shell.
—C.c. Weiss
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Thanks in part to Ozempic, thin is back in, with once-plus-size celebrities sporting svelter physiques, and some already-slim stars now verging on gaunt.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
The sloping roofline and tapered sides give it a more svelte look over the larger EX90 while the rear features the latest iteration of the automaker’s vertical LED taillights that outline the tailgate.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for svelte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte
Adjective
-
With their colorful petals and tall, skinny stems, coneflowers are an iconic perennial bloom native throughout the United States.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
5 May 2026
-
Beneath her skinny brows, a silver highlighter delicately lined them.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
Scientists would like to mount more sophisticated instruments on Mars helicopters to search for things like ice in the Martian soil.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
Built to scale While the front-facing part of the live wave is all about human connection, the backend is powered by sophisticated technology.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a speedy dinner chock-full of slender haricot verts, make this Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson DeCosta, a tall and slender teenager with a metabolism faster than Lamar Jackson’s 40 time, had no such worries during a long Saturday in the draft room, according to his father.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Old stone walls and graceful arches frame olive and citrus groves and gum trees, while antique pieces gathered from European markets dot the corners.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the Islamic Republic’s disintegration, whereas Trump, possibly satisfied with tactical success in Iran, may desire any graceful exit.—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There have also been suggestions that a dwarf planet called Makemake, which is slightly smaller than Pluto, could have a very thin atmosphere, though some scientists are skeptical.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
Astronomers have detected a thin atmosphere around a tiny celestial body in the outer solar system for the first time — an object previously thought to be too small to support the presence of an atmosphere.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The bark is smooth and slate-gray with distinctive white longitudinal stripes that become more fissured and rough as the tree matures.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
4 May 2026
-
There was no one cooler, smoother and more casual on the field than Robinson Canó, who starred in nine seasons (2005-13) with the Yankees.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The airline has filed for bankruptcy twice since 2024, seeking to emerge as a leaner, more competitive operation.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 May 2026
-
Plant in a lean potting medium with good drainage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The ensuing evacuation coincides with a criminal operation orchestrated by the suave George Karalis (Theo James) and his muscle -for-hire gang led by the mysterious X (Sam Worthington).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Aasif Mandvi and Christopher Fitzgerald barely register as Jane and Julia’s oblivious husbands, while Consuelos, who plays Maurice as a suave cuckolder with a dodgy European accent, should probably stick to daytime TV.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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